Flat sheet delivery for printing presses



Oct. 26, 1943. H. J, LUEHRS 2,332,863

FLAT SHEET DELIVERY FOR PRINTING` PRESSES Filed July 4, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 i lu mi is INVTOR.

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FLAT SHEET DELIVERY FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed July 4, 1942 4 Shee'cs-.Sheekl 3 IN VEN TOR.

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4 Sheets-Sheet 4 HK LMU l .@.IWWMNIEE E QE @N Patented Oct. v26, 1943 FLAT SHEET DELIVERY FOR` PRINTING PRESSES Hans J. Luchrs, Westerly, R. I., assignor to C. B.

Cottrell & Sons Company, Westerly, R. I., a corporation of Delaware Application July 4, 1942, Serial No. 449,821

28 Claims.

My invention comprises, generally, a flat sheet delivery in which sheets of any selected length within wide limits may be forwarded with rapidity and accuracy to a suitable delivery point, means being employed for directing air under pressure upwardly against each passing sheet and thereafter downwardly against the tail portion of the sheet to depress it as the sheets are delivered.

My invention comprises, more particularly, means for forwarding the sheets in spaced relationship to a delivery table, main nozzles being employed to direct air under pressure .upwardly against the passing sheets and through the spaces between successive sheets, supplementary nozzles being employed to direct the air which passes upwardly between the sheets from the main nozzles, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them into contact with a sheet retarding device for slowing down the sheets as they are delivered onto the delivery table.

My invention also comprises means for cutting successive sheets of a selected length from a traveling web, adjustable sheet forwarding means, as belt carriers and coacting feed rollers being provided for taking control of the sheets as they are cut from the web, for spacing the sheets apart as they are forwarded into position to be acted upon by the compressed air nozzles.

My invention also includes sheet. retarding means for coaction with the compressed air nozzles, said retarding means comprising an upper rotary sheet retarding device and a lower sheet retarding device, said lower sheet retarding device bearing the rear sheet joggers which coact with the adjustable side and front sheet joggers for the pile of sheets on thedelivery table.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a horizontal section taken in the plane of the line I I of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 represents a side elevation of the deliv- QTY;

Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal vertical section, taken in the plane of the line 3 3 of Fig.V l; Fig. 4 represents a detail section, taken in the plane of the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

, Fig. 5 represents an enlarged detail section, taken in the plane of the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 represents an enlarged detail section. taken in the plane of the line 6 6 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 7 represents an enlarged detail section, taken in the plane of the line 7 7 of Fig. 1.

y The printed web I enters the delivery from the printing press (not shown herein) and passes over the web feed roll II which is driven at the surface speed of the printing cylinders which may be of various sizes according to the length of the repeats and the corresponding length of the sheets to be cut from the web. In the present instance this web feed roll II is driven at the required speed from the printing press by a longitudinally disposed upper shaft I2, through the bevel gears I3, I4. The web I0 is then passed to the feed rolls I5, I6 which may be driven from the upper shaft I2 at the surface speed of the web through the bevel gears Il, I8, the vertical shaft I9, the bevel gears 20, 2l ani the spur gears 22, 23. The variable speed means for cutting sheets of a predetermined length, Within wide limits, from the traveling web l0, is shown as coacting rotary and stationary cutters 24, 25. The cutter 24 is caused to rotate at a variable speed so as to cut the web at the speed thereof, by providing the eccentric gears 26, 2l; the shaft 28 of the gear 26 being driven from the longitudinally disposed lower shaft 29 leading from the printing press drive through the bevel gears 3G, 3l, the vertical shaft 32, the bevel gears 33, 35, thescross shaft and the train of spur gears 36, 3l, t.

The sheet delivery point is herein shown as a flat sheet delivery table 39 which may be positively lowered step by step, as the pile of sheets increases, by the following elements. A rotary crank disc 40 on the cross shaft 35 is connected by a rod 4I to an arm 42 which carries the pawls i3 for engagement with a ratchet 44 on the cross shaft 45. This cross shaft has a worm and gear connection 46, 4l with the lower end of a vertical shaft 4R, the `upper end of which shaft has a worm and gear connection 49, 5U, with a cross shaft 5I having sprockets 52. The chains 54 pass from the front corners of said delivery table 39 over the sprockets 53 and the sprockets 52 and downwardly to the usual counterbalance weights 55. The chains 54* which lead upwardly from the rear corners of the table 39 pass around sprockets 52* on the shaft 5I and also downwardly to the said counterbalance weights 55.

The means for forwarding sheets of a predetermined length from the cutters 24, 25 in spaced relationship may be constructed, arranged and operated as follows. Upper and lower endless belt carriers 56 and 51 lead forwardly from their respective pulleys 58, 59 located adjacent the cutters 24, 25. The upper belt carrier 56 passes forwardly over the delivery table 39 to and around the pulleys 60 and from thence upwardly and y rearwardly to and around the drive pulleys 6I and the pulleys 62. From thence the belt carrier 56 extends downwardly and rearwardly to the pulleys 56, to complete the path of the belt car rier.

The shaft 6I* of the belt drive pulleys 6I is driven from the shaft 63 of the web feed roll I I by a manually operated variable speed means, such for instance as a Reeves drive, in which the usual belt 64 passes around the upper and lower adjustable pulleys 65 and 66. These pulleys 65 and 66 may be simultaneously adjusted to regulate the speed of their connecting belt 64, by the usual hand wheel 96, upper and lower sprockets 91 and 98 and their connecting chain 99. The speed of travel of the upper belt carrier 56 may thus be regulated to maintain a uniform spacing between the sheets of a predetermined length, within wide limits, as they are forwarded to 'the delivery table 39.A

The lower short belt carrier 61 which extends forwardly from the pulleys 59 to and around vthe pulleys 61 adjacent the rear edge of the delivery table 39 is driven from the belt carrier 56 through the spur gears 58*, 59*.

A pair of coacting sheet feed rollers 68, 69 which are frictionally driven by the belt carriers 56, 51 are mounted in end bearings 10 adjustable along the frame toward and away from the cutters 24, by bolts 1I located in elongated slots 1I in the side frames, so that the said sheet feed rollers may grip the" leading ends of the sheets of a selected length as they are severed from the web by the said cutters.

The pneumatic means for retarding the spaced sheets as they pass to the delivery table is shown as constructed, arranged and operated as follows. A rotary blower 12 furnishes compressed air to the cross chamber 13 from which the main nozzles 14, located in a transverse row, direct the compressed air upwardly against the sheets as they pass over the nozzles, and upwardly through the spaces between the sheets as the successive sheets pass by the nozzles.

Supplementary nozzles 15 are located in a transverse row above the path of the spaced sheets and these supplementary nozzles are located in position and coact with the nozzles 14 to receive the air which is directed upwardly by the nozzles 14 through the spaces between the successive sheets. These supplementary nozzles 15 are shaped to direct the air downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets after the sheets have passed the nozzles 14 and serve to depress the tail ends of the sheets into contact with a sheet retarding device which oscillates in timed relation to the sheets. The supplementary nozzles 14 may be turbine shaped to increase the air velocity therethrough and thereby enhance its eiiiciency.

This oscillating sheet retarding device com-- prises a crossbar 16 which carries the depending rear sheet joggers 11 and also the horizontal arms 18. lated from the rotary cross shaft through box cams 19 which engage studs or rollers 80 carried by the forked connecting rods 8l at both sides of the delivery frame. These rods 8| are 'connected to the upper arms 82 of rock levers whose hubs are loosely pivoted on the rotary cross shaft 83, the lower arms 84 of which rock levers carry thecrossbar 16.

/A supplementary rotary sheet retarding device may be used in connection with the oscillating sheet retarding device to stop the sheets at their delivery point, which supplementary rotary sheet This sheet retarding device is oscil' into coaction with the arms 18 of the oscillating sheet retarding device at the proper time to clamp the tail portion of the sheet between the said rollers 86 and the arms 18. This cross shaft 83 is rotated at a variable speed from the cross shaft 35 through the spur gears 81, 88 and the eccentric gears 89, 90.

The means for jogging the sides of the pile of sheets on the delivery table 39 may be constructed, arranged and operated as follows. Side bars 9| are provided with adjustable side joggers 92. End stops 93 are carried by a fixed crossbar 94. This crossbar 94 also carries the shoes 95 for deflecting the front portions of the sheets downwardly onto the delivery table 39.

In operation, the printed web as hereinbefore explained, passes around the feed roll II to the feed rolls I5, I6 and from thence between the cutters 24, 25 where sheets of the desired length are successively severed from the web.v The sheet forwarding means which includes the upper and lower belt carriers 56, 51 and the upper and lower sheet feed rollers 68, 69 serve to forward the sheets from the cutters, the speed of the sheet forwarding means being adjusted to properly space the sheets apart as they are forwarded to the delivery table A39. It will be understood that the upper and lower belt carriers 56 and 51 are driven at the desired speed from the variable speed belt 64 and that the feed rollers 68, 69 are adjusted toward and away from the cutters the required distance to grip the sheets as they are cut from the web.

As the spaced sheets pass over the main air nozzles 'I4 the sheets are held by air pressure against the under side of the upper belt carrier 56 until the shoes deflect the leading portions of the sheets down onto the delivery table 39. As the tail portions of the sheets pass by the air nozzles the air is directed upwardly through the spaces between the sheets to the corresponding supplementary nozzles 15 and the air is then directed downwardly by said supplementary nozzles against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the oscillating retarding device for slowing down the sheets.

If desired, the rotary sheet retarding device may be used to bring the sheets to a stop over the delivery table, by the coaction of the rollers 86 of the rotary sheet retarding device with the lateral arms 18 of the oscillating retarding device.

It will be understood that by the term delivery table as used herein, I wish to include any suitable delivery point for receiving the sheets.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not intend to be limited vto the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but what I claim is:

1. In a at sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them.

2. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table,

means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, a sheet retarding device, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into contact with the sheet retarding device.

3. I n a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, an oscillating sheet retarding device, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into contact with the retarding device.

4. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table. means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, a sheet retarding device oscillated in timed relation to the sheets, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into contact with the retarding device.

5. In a ilat sheet delivery, adelivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, coacting rotary sheet retarding devices, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into en-A sagement with the said sheet retarding devices.

6. In a at sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, coacting oscillating and rotary sheet retarding devices, and means operable to direct air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into engagement with the said retarding devices.

7. In a nat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them.

8. In a at sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, a sheet retarding device means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them ont-o the sheet retarding device.

9. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship. an oscillating sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device. l

10. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship coacting oscillating and rotary sheet retarding devices, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them into engagement with the said retarding devices.

l1. In a nat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, nozzles for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting nozzles for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them, l

12. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, a sheet retarding device, nozzles for directing the air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting nozzles for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets todepress them onto the sheet retarding device.

13. In a iat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced relationship, coacting oscillating and rotary sheet retarding devices, nozzles for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting nozzles for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to ldepress them into engagement with the said retarding devices.

14. In a ilat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in spaced .,relationship, a sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets and downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets for depressing them into contact with the retarding device, and a rear sheet jogger carried by the retarding device.

15. In a variable length flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them,

16. In a variable length fiat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of diiTerent lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, a variable speed drive for the endless belt carriers, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them.

17. In a variable length flat sheet delivery, a

delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of A different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, a sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the .sheet retarding device.

18.In a variable length flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of lend.. less belt carriers and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, a variable speed drive for the endless belt carriers, a sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device,

19. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers, the upper one of which extends over the table and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable' along the carriers, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them.

2-0. In a'flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers,the upper one of which extends over the table and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers,A avariable speed drive for the endless belt carriers, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portion of the sheets to depress them.

2l. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers, the upper one of which extends over the table and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, a sheet retarding device, means fondirecting air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions ofthe sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device.

22. In a at sheet delivery, a delivery table, means forA forwarding sheets of different lengths thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, said means including a pair of endless belt carriers, the upper one of which extends over the table and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers, a variable speed drive for the endless belt carriers, a sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passingsheets, and coacting means for' directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device.

23. In a flat sheet delivery, means for cutting sheets of a predetermined length from a traveling web, a delivery table, means for forwarding the sheets thereto in predetermined spaced relationship including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along the carriers toward and away from the cutting means into position to cause the feed rollers to take control of the sheets as they are cut from the web, means for directing air under pressure a pair of coacting feed rollers adjustable along Y the carriers toward and away from the cutting means into position to cause the feed rollers to take control of the sheets as they are cut from the web, a sheet retarding device, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device.

25. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table, means for forwarding sheets thereto in predetermined spaced relationship, nozzles or directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting nozzles for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets after the sheets have passed the first named nozzles, to depress said tail portions of the sheets.

26. In a iiat sheet delivery, a delivery table,

means for forwarding sheets thereto in predeter` mined spaced relationship, a sheet retarding device, nozzles for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and coacting nozzles for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets after the sheets have passed the rst named nozzles, to depress said tail portions of the sheets onto the sheet retarding device.

27. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table,means for cutting sheets of a predetermined length from a traveling web, means including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of adjustable coacting rollers for forwarding the sheets of a selected length in predetermined spaced relationship to the delivery table, manually operated variable speed means for driving the cutting means and the endless belt carriers at the desired speed, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air whichv passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them.

28. In a flat sheet delivery, a delivery table,l

means for cutting sheets of a predetermined length from a traveling web, means including a pair of endless belt carriers and a pair of adjustable coacting rollers for forwarding the sheets of a selected length in predetermined spaced relationship to the delivery table, a sheet retarding device, manually operated variable speed means for driving the cutting means and the endless belt carriers at the desired speed, means for directing air under pressure upwardly against and between the passing sheets, and means for directing the air which passes upwardly between the sheets, downwardly against the tail portions of the sheets to depress them onto the sheet retarding device. v

HANS J. LUEHRS. 

